DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES -- (Marketwired) -- 07/15/13 -- Within the first eight months of opening, the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai has made a significant contribution to the UAE's rapidly expanding tourism and travel sector. Adding 804 rooms and over 7,500 square metres of indoor and outdoor event space to the market, the impressive convention hotel is driving growth in the lucrative Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) market in the UAE.

Economic research released by The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) indicates that travel and tourism in the UAE is growing notably faster than the world GDP growth average, contributing 14% to the economy in 2012 and exceeding the global average of 9%. The WTTC also forecasts a further rise of 3.2% this year, highlighting the sector's increasing importance in the country's overall economic development. This 5 star hotel in Dubai will respond to the demand directly with the introduction of a second tower, bringing the total room count in the hotel to 1608 and adding two further options to a portfolio of 16 food and beverage outlets.

In the initial eight months the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai has recorded remarkable numbers in both individual and group bookings, establishing itself as a preferred business hotel in Dubai for international travellers. Filling a noted gap in the market, the hotel is the first in Dubai capable of hosting groups, meetings and conventions of up to 1,000 people, where delegates can meet, sleep and dine in one location. An early model of success includes a USA based group that contracted for 700 rooms a night during the event, delivering over 2,600 room nights and indicating the international MICE demand and potential in the UAE.

Occupancy rates at the hotel are closely aligned with those reported in Dubai, which maintained an average of 88.2%(1) since the beginning of the year. New figures referring to the first four months of 2013 have revealed that the hotel's top five source markets for leisure are the United States (17%), Saudi Arabia (16%), UAE (14%), the United Kingdom (7%) and Qatar (5%). Meanwhile for group bookings, the UAE (25%), United States (10%), India (7%), Belgium (5%) and the United Kingdom (5%) were the biggest drivers.

Hamad bin Mejren, Executive Director of Business Tourism for Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), said: "Dubai Convention and Events Bureau drives the development of Dubai's MICE market and the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai has been a welcome addition, expanding our ability to attract large-scale conventions. The hotel will play an invaluable part in the growth of the sector which we are targeting as part of our vision for tourism for 2020, and our objective to turn Dubai from the regional events hub into a world leading events destination. The success of the JW Marriott Marquis in its first eight months is an indicator of the success which the city's hotel market has experienced during the first half of 2013: results which DTCM will issue shortly."

JW Marriott Marquis Dubai General Manager Rupprecht Queitsch comments, "The JW Marriott Marquis Dubai is proving to be a pioneering force on a number of levels. The owner Emirates Group had the vision to build a convention hotel with scale and facilities on par with most major MICE destination cities, making Dubai a viable and attractive option for high volume international conferences. The hotel has superb event space totaling more than 7,500 sq metres, nine restaurants, five lounges, a world-class spa, health club and two ballrooms. The resulting benefits for the UAE are clear but what excites us the most is that our journey has only just begun -- the potential for further growth is huge and we will continue to target convention and group planners to support the government in establishing Dubai as a preferred choice for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions."

The JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai opened its first tower to guests in November 2012 with 804 rooms, nine restaurants, five bars and lounges; including boutique steakhouse Prime 68 and experiential sushi restaurant, Izakaya. It is also home to Michelin-starred Indian Chef, Atul Kochhar's first fine dining restaurant in the Middle East -- Rang Mahal by Atul Kochhar. For relaxation and fitness, the hotel offers an outdoor swimming pool, state-of-the-art fitness centre and the sublime Saray Spa. The second tower will be open in 2014, adding a further 804 rooms and two more restaurants and lounges to the hotel.

1. TRI Hospitality Consulting Middle East May 2013

JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai

When fully open, the Emirates owned JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai will cater to a myriad of tastes, while simultaneously providing cutting edge business facilities and over 7,500 square metres of indoor and outdoor event space which includes 2 ballrooms, which are exceptional for wedding receptions in Dubai. In addition, the hotel will board a number of innovative features incorporating the latest technology, with the aim of providing a unique environment for guests that reflects it's positioning as an iconic and pioneering business hotel. Located in the heart of Business Bay, minutes from Dubai World Trade Centre, the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre and close to Dubai International Airport, the JW Marriott Marquis resides in a prime location and is iconic in the Business Bay skyline.

JW Marriott is part of Marriott International's luxury portfolio and consists of beautiful properties in gateway cities and distinctive resort locations around the world. These elegant hotels cater to today's sophisticated, self-assured travelers, offering them the quiet luxury they seek in a warmly authentic, relaxed atmosphere lacking in pretense. JW Marriott properties artfully provide highly crafted, anticipatory experiences that are reflective of their locale so that their guests have the time to focus on what is most important to them. Currently, there are 55 JW Marriott hotels in 23 countries; by 2015 the portfolio will encompass 78 properties in 28 countries.